Recreational apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a recreational apparatus comprising a resilient ball and foot supports connected to the ball on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the ball, such that in use a person disposed on the foot supports is capable to bounce above a floor surface. The foot supports are for example provided by a single rigid annular platform encircling the resilient ball.

United States Patent 91 Van Der Cleyen et a1.

[ RECREATIONAL APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Rafael J. J. Van Der Cleyen, Erwetegem; Wilfried F. Ribbens, Hillegem, both of Belgium [73] Assignee: Les Usines Fabelty Societe Anonyme, Bastogne, Belgium [22] Filed: March 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 22,749

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 31, 1969 Belgium ..730763 [52] US. Cl. ..272/57 E, 272/57 A [51 Int. Cl. ..A63b 25/08 [58] Field of Search....273/l06, 106 B, 105.5; 46/89, 46/57, 88, 74 D; 272/57 R, 57 A, 57 E, 52, 70, 79 R, l R; 280/205, 87.04; 9/311;

[ Feb. 13, 1973 3,604,726 9/1971 Tracy ..Z72/57 A 3,179,409 4/1965 Marino .272/57 1 1,858,460 5/1932 Ranseen 1 1 ..46/89 2,756,517 7/1956 YOUtZ 46/57 D 3,176,982 4/1965 O'Daniell.... 46/57 E 3,122,377 2/1964 Mortenson.. 46/57 E 3,167,312 1/1965 Blanchard ..46/57 E FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 791,569 8/1968 Canada ....272/l R 778,279 12/1934 France ..9/3ll 441,789 3/1927 Germany .9/31 1 273,105 4/1951 Switzerland ..272/57 E 370,108 4/1932 Great Britain ..272/57 E Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney-Bacon and Thomas [5 7 ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a recreational apparatus comprising a resilient ball and foot supports connected to the ball on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the ball, such that in use a person disposed on the foot supports is capable to bounce above a floor surface. The foot supports are for example provided by a single rigid annular platform encircling the resilient ball.

1 1 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB I 31373 7 1 6,229 SHEET 1 OF 2 IN VE/V TOPS RAFAEL J'J' VAWDL-A QEYE/V I W/z 59/50 F R/BBE/vs ATTORNEYS RECREATIONAL APPARATUS This invention relates to recreational apparatus.

More particularly this invention relates to bounceable play or sports apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided recreational apparatus comprising a resilient ball, and foot supports connected to the ball such that in use a person disposed with his feet on the foot supports is capable of bouncing above a floor surface upon the resilient ball.

The foot supports may be integral with the ball, for example a thickened planar portion on one side of the ball, or thickened indented foot shaped portions on either side of the ball, or they may comprise a separate member or members securely attached to the ball.

In the latter case the foot supports may comprise two platforms disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the ball. Alternatively, the foot supports may be provided by a single rigid annular platform encircling the ball, the platform having an outer periphery of any desired and suitable shape, such as circular, oval, or polyhedral.

Where the foot supports are separate from the resilient ball they may be attached thereto by welding for example. However, where the foot supports comprise an annular platform encircling the ball, the platform may be attached to the ball solely by frictional engagement therewith, although in this case also, welding attachment may be used.

The annular platform may be formed of any suitable rigid material, such as metal, wood or a plastics material.

The resilient ball may be formed of a natural or synthetic rubber material and may be hollow and inflatable, or may be of cellular or solid construction.

The apparatus may include clasps or attachments for holding a user's feet upon the foot supports. Such clasps may comprise straps, or may comprise for example metal hooks, secured to the foot support.

By means of the apparatus according to the invention a person standing with his feet upon the supports can, with skill, perform successive bouncing operations on a floor by exerting a succession of bodily flexions and extensions in order to cause the ball to bounce.

It will be apparent that the apparatus according to the invention can be used purely as a toy, or for performing balancing or limbering up exercises.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which 2 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an under plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

The embodiment of the invention shown somewhat schematically in FIG. 1 comprises a ball 1, made of a resilient material such as a natural or synthetic rubber.

The ball 1 is surrounded by an annular platform 2 disposed diametrically about the ball and having a circular outer periphery. The platform is formed. of a sufficiently rigid material to be able to withstand. auser's weight.

Clasps or attachments3 are provided for engagement with part of the upper sides of the user's feet when he is mounted on the platform.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 it will be seen that the recreational apparatus 11 shown therein comprises a hollow inflated resilient ball 5 of natural or synthetic rubber material.

The ball 5 is encircled by a rigid annular foot-support platform 6 formed for example of polyethylene by injection moulding, and provided on the underside with radial and circular strengthening ribs 7 and 8 respectively. The upper surface of the platform 6 is roughened and provided with small circular ribs 9 so as to increase the friction of a users feet with the platform.

The apparatus is assembled by positioning the deflated ball within the annular platform and then inflating the ball, by means of the inflation valve member 10, until the ball fits tightly within the annular platform 6 and in fact is constricted thereby as shown at 4, so as to bulge out on either side of the platform 6.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the ball 1 protrudes slightly more from the lower side of the platform 6, so as to provide a greater resilient volume below the platform.

We have found that the frictional contact of the ball 5 with the platform 6 is sufficient in normal usage to retain the platform 6 securely in position around the ball 5.

In order to perform successive bounces on a floor surface, a person stands in a balanced position on the upper surface of the platform 6 with his feet on opposite sides of the ball 5, the lower surface of the ball 5 being disposed on the floor surface. The person then performs a succession of body flexions and extension at a rate such as to cause the apparatus 11 to bounce on the floor surface. By adjusting the intensity of the flexions and extensions, the person can regulate the amplitude of the bounces of the apparatus.

What we claim is z 1. Recreational apparatus consisting of only a resiliently deformable ball of sufficient strength to support the weight of a person and to ounce with a person supported thereon, substantially rigid, relatively thin and generally planar foot supports of sufficient strength to support the weight of a person and being immovably connected directly to the outer peripheral surface of said ball and disposed on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the ball intermediate the top and bottom of the ball with a substantial part of the ball unencumbered and exposed above and below the foot supports, the part above said supports being accessible for direct gripping contact by the feet of the person on said supports.

2. Recreational apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the foot supports are separate from but securely attached to the resilient ball.

3. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foot supports are provided by a single rigid annular platform encircling the resilient ball.

4. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outer periphery of the platform is circular in shape.

5. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foot supports are welded to the resilient ball.

6. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the annular platform is attached to the resilient ball solely by frictional engagement therewith.

7. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the annular platform is formed of an injection molded plastics material.

8. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for holding a users feet upon the foot supports.

9. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient ball comprises a hollow inflatable ball.

Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including foot clasps carried by said apparatus and engageable with part of the upper portion of a users feet when using the apparatus.

11. Recreational apparatus consisting of only an inflatable hollow resiliently deformable ball of sufficient strength to support the weight of a person and to bounce with a person supported thereon; foot supports in the form of an annular, substantially rigid, generally planar platform of sufficient strength to support the weight of a person substantially diametrically encircling the resilient ball; the annular platform having an internal diameter less than the fully inflated diameter of the resilient ball so as to constrict the portion of the resilient ball encircled, whereby the foot supports are immovably secured directly to the outer peripheral surface of said resilient ball by friction therewith, with a substantial part of the ball unencumbered exposed above and below said platform, the part above said platform being accessible for direct gripping contact by the feet of the person on said platform. 

1. Recreational apparatus consisting of only a resiliently deformable ball of sufficient strength to support the weight of a person and to ounce with a person supported thereon, substantially rigid, relatively thin and generally planar foot supports of sufficient strength to support the weight of a person and being immovably connected directly to the outer peripheral surface of said ball and disposed on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the ball intermediate the top and bottom of the ball with a substantial part of the ball unencumbered and exposed above and below the foot supports, the part above said supports being accessible for direct gripping contact by the feet of the person on said supports.
 1. Recreational apparatus consisting of only a resiliently deformable ball of sufficient strength to support the weight of a person and to ounce with a person supported thereon, substantially rigid, relatively thin and generally planar foot supports of sufficient strength to support the weight of a person and being immovably connected directly to the outer peripheral surface of said ball and disposed on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the ball intermediate the top and bottom of the ball with a substantial part of the ball unencumbered and exposed above and below the foot supports, the part above said supports being accessible for direct gripping contact by the feet of the person on said supports.
 2. Recreational apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the foot supports are separate from but securely attached to the resilient ball.
 3. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foot supports are provided by a single rigid annular platform encircling the resilient ball.
 4. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outer periphery of the platform is circular in shape.
 5. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foot supports are welded to the resilient ball.
 6. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the annular platform is attached to the resilient ball solely by frictional engagement therewith.
 7. Recreational apparatus as claimed in cLaim 3 wherein the annular platform is formed of an injection molded plastics material.
 8. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for holding a user''s feet upon the foot supports.
 9. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient ball comprises a hollow inflatable ball.
 10. Recreational apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including foot clasps carried by said apparatus and engageable with part of the upper portion of a user''s feet when using the apparatus. 